Day Three of ASPA’s National Conference Offers Career Events for Attendees

See today’s photo montage for coverage of yesterday’s events.

Las Vegas–Sunday opens with Public Service Career Sessions for those just starting a career in public service or looking to make a change. Topics for these sessions include:

Innovative Approaches to a Career in Public Service10:45am–12:15pmThe paths to a career in public service are unlimited and by their nature, unique to each practitioner or member of the academic community. Attendees will hear different approaches to gaining practical experience and meaningful public sector participation to help address issues and gain a realistic picture about public sector work. Civic engagement and inclusion and internships will be presented as opportunities to fill perceived gaps in political science and civic education at the undergraduate level. Time will be provided to exchange comments with the presenters.

Presentations include “Engaged Millennials and the Value of Student Innovation” and “Filling the Gap in Undergraduate Education: A Government Internship Opportunity”Presenters: Kelly Macatangay, Loren J. Pritchett, VCU; Brian Kunkel, Clark County, NV

Public Sector Careers: What You Should Know1:45–3:00pmA panel of Public Administrators and Academicians will discuss their academic training, their career paths and offer encouraging words to attendees. There will be ample time for questions and answers.

The day also brings two other important conference events. The first is the Gloria Hobson Nordin Social Equity Luncheon. This year’s speaker and recipient is Daniella Levine. Levine founded the Human Services Coalition (HSC) in 1996 to meet needs of families and communities through service, public education and advocacy. In 16 years, the organization has become a hub for innovation in health and human services and an incubator for new approaches to community and economic development. Major initiatives include the Prosperity Campaign, Civic Leadership Academy and Imagine Miami. Recognition has been received from U.S. Treasury, USDA, Government Accountability Office (GAO), Ford Foundation, the Greater Miami Chamber and Commission on Ethics. The organization employs 35 with a budget of over $2 million from a mix of public and private sources. Catalyst Miami is the new name and brand, with greater focus on improving performance of nonprofits so that they can increase their social impact.

Following that is the annual Elliot Richardson Lecture. Co-sponsored by ASPA and the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) the series was established to honor the memory of Elliot Richardson and the ideals of public service that he embodied. The 2012 Richardson Lecturer is Walter D. Broadnax, distinguished professor of public administration at the Maxwell School and Trustee Emeritus of Syracuse University will deliver this year’s lecture. A public policy expert, his stellar career includes serving as president of Clark Atlanta University, Dean of the School of Public Affairs at American University and professor of public policy and management in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Maryland, where he also directed the Bureau of Governmental Research. He was also a full-time faculty member at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government from 1981 to 987. From 1993–1996 he was the Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In prior years he held key positions in state government as president of the New York Civil Service Commission and as director of Children Youth and Adult Services for the State of Kansas. He also currently serves on the Advisory Board of Harvard University’s Taubman Center.

Sunday will close with the Founders’ Forum Fellows Critical Issues in Public Administration Exchange: A Series of Discussion Circles. This year marks the first year in which the Founders’ Forum Fellows will engage ASPA’s membership directly with their thoughts regarding contemporary issues in the field.

The Fellows Program’s objective is to increase student participation through the selection of Founders’ Forum Fellows. This year’s Fellows are:

See today’s photo montage for coverage of yesterday’s events. See also the Student Conference Blog for our first posting and photos by 2012 Founders’ Forum Fellow Winfield Wilson of American University.